Heat extraction system for cooling power transformer

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides systems and methods for improving efficiency of power transformers by capturing heat energy that is produced by air breathing heat engine (ABHE) or a feed water heater to produce chillant. The systems of the present invention may be used with step-down or step-up power transformers. A heat energy dissipation device is in communication with the transformer and may recover heat energy from the ABHE and transformer. A refrigeration system is coupled to the dissipation device to use recovered heat energy to produce chillant which is supplied to the transformer and ABHE. The system may also include a gas compressor and post-compression and pre-compression heat exchangers; steam turbine engines, and power generators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention.

[0002] The present invention relates to power transformers, which may bestep-up or step-down transformers.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The manufacturing of electricity begins at the power plant, wherenatural gas, oil, coal or other fuels are burned in a boiler producingsteam under high pressure and/or in air breathing heat engines (ABHE),which turns a turbine connected to a generator having a large magnetsurrounded by coiled copper wire. The turbine causes the magnet torotate inside the coils and generate electricity by creating a currentin each coil.

[0005] From the generator, the power is “stepped up” to a very highvoltage by a large power transformer for more economical transmissionover long distances to different substations. A substation is comprisedof electrical apparatus that generally transforms the voltage to lowerlevels. From the substations the power then travels to otherdistribution transformers. These transformers again reduce the voltageto the 120-volt and 240-volt levels required for appliances andequipment.

[0006] From the distribution transformers, the power is channeled todistribution panels and home circuit breakers. It is at this point thatthe power is divided up into several circuits that serve differentloads.

[0007] Generally, transformers are highly efficient and can deliverpractically the full power received in the primary coil to the secondarycoil. However, transformer losses, typically in the form of heat, canreduce transformer efficiency, resulting in a reduction of load that thetransformer can serve. Examples of transformer losses affected by heatand load which can be metered are: copper loss, hyteresis loss, eddycurrent loss, iron loss, no-load loss, and impedance loss. In addition,heat from transformer losses can degrade the insulation of thetransformer, leading to reduced life of the transformer.

[0008] It is prudent to manage transformer losses to preventoverheating. Known systems address the overheat problem of powertransformer by using fans or other cooling mechanisms such as coolingoil baths or electric refrigeration systems. Traditionally, the fans orthe electric refrigeration systems utilize external sources of energy,therefore, they are not very efficient.

[0009] Further improvements in power transformer systems are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention provides a system and method for improving theinner workings of a power transformer and simultaneously conditioningthe intake air to an air breathing heat engine (ABHE) as taught in U.S.Pat. No. 4,936,109 of the present inventor. The inventive system alsomay modulate the heat from losses described herein and provide for the‘on-line’ conditioning of the heat from a power transformer.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system forimproving efficiency of power transformers includes a power transformer,a device for dissipating the heat energy, and a refrigeration systemthat uses the dissipated heat energy to produce a chillant. The chillantis then re-circulated and used to lower the temperature of the powertransformer system. The device for dissipating the heat energy may be aliquid to liquid heat exchanger or a liquid to air heat exchanger. Therefrigeration system may be an absorption chiller that employs heatenergy to produce a chillant by energizing a staged process ofconcentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption of a mixture ofgas and liquid.

[0012] In another embodiment, the system may further include a gascompressor that generates heat energy during gas compression, and adevice for recovering the heat energy to supply to the refrigerationsystem producing a chillate. The device for recovering heat energy mayinclude a post-compression heat exchanger. The chillant from therefrigeration system is used in a heat exchange process to condition theintake air to the compressor. In this particular embodiment, the gascompressor may further include a pre-compression heat exchanger, whichalso receives the chillant from the refrigeration system and anembodiment to provide chillant for reducing the heat related transformerlosses. The pre-compression heat exchanger serves to cool the intake gasprior to the compression process, so that the energy used for gascompression can be reduced.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, the system of the present inventionfurther includes an air breathing heat engine (ABHE) operably coupled tothe gas compressor, whereby the gas compressor compresses air that flowsthrough the ABHE. The compressed air is mixed with fuel, and ignited tocreate a combustion force to run the ABHE. At the same time, exhaust gascontaining heat energy is produced. The ABHE has a device for recoveringthe heat energy from the exhaust gas. The device may be apost-combustion heat exchanger located downstream of the combustionarea. The heat exchanger recovers heat energy from the exhaust gas by aheat exchange process. The recovered heat energy is then transferred tothe refrigeration system for use in the production of chillant. Thepost-combustion heat exchanger is embodied to provide heat energy thatcan produce chillant from the refrigeration system to use in the heatexchange process. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, theABHE may be connected, by a shaft, to a generator for power generation.The combustion force generated in the ABHE is used to drive the shaft,which in turn drives the generator.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the system of the present inventionincludes a steam turbine, instead of the ABHE. The steam turbinereceives pressurized steam from a steam source, such as a boiler. Onceentering the steam turbine, the pressurized steam expands with an outputof power that can drive a shaft to actuate a connected power generator.After complete expansion, the steam flows into a downstream condenser tobe condensed and cooled. The steam changes to hot water carrying heatenergy that can be transferred to the refrigeration system. Therefrigeration system can use this additional heat energy for theproduction of chillant. The steam turbine may provide hot water to aconnected hot water heater, which distributes hot water for variouspurposes.

[0015] One advantage of the invention is that it provides the method forcooling the inner working of a transformer for all atmospheric and loadconditions while other directed chillate is conditioning the ambient airstream to the ABHE which magnifies the amount of electrical energy forretail by 20-30% when ambient termperatures are around 95° F. (35° C.)compared to the through-put for turbine ISO or transformer nameplaterating. The chillate provides the means to protect the transformeragainst the damage of temperature rise due to the heat gain in theinherent losses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of thisinvention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparentand the invention itself will be better understood by reference to thefollowing description of embodiments of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the system of thepresent invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a graph depicting rising transformer temperature andshowing a zone in which chilled oil is used to augment ambient cooling;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a diagram of another embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the heat generating section;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the heat generating section.

[0021] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the drawings representembodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarilyto scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to betterillustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification setout herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustiveor limit the invention to the precise form disclosed in the followingdetailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and describedso that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, system 10 for improving a powertransformer efficiency generally includes power transformer 20generating heat through transformation losses such as heat due toresistance flow of current, heat due to hysteresis, heat due to eddycurrents, and heat due to no-load. The efficiency of transformer 10 canbe calculated in terms of energy units (kilowatt hour, Kwh):

Efficiency=Output/Input=Output (Kwh)/[Output (Kwh)+Heat loss (Kwh)]

[0024] The voltage regulation of transformer 20 is the percentage changein the output voltage from no-load to full-load. [% Regulation=(no-loadvoltage−load voltage)×100/load voltage)]. Ideally, there should be nochange in the transformer's output voltage from no-load to full-load. Insuch a case, the voltage regulation is 0%. To get the best performanceout of a transformer, it is necessary to have the lowest possiblevoltage regulation.

[0025] Power transformer 20 may be any commercially availabletransformer, such as any one of the common classes of transformerslisted in TABLE 1. TABLE 1 The most common classes of transformer THEMOST COMMON CLASSES OF TRANSFORMER CLASS COOLING METHOD OA OUTSIDE-AIRSELF-COOLED (BY CONVECTION) OA/FA OUTSIDE-AIR/FAN-AIR SELF-COOLED OR FANCOOLED OA/FA/FA OUTSIDE-AIR W/2 FAN SELF-COOLED/FAN COOLED COOLING SETSOA/FA/FOA OUTSIDE-AIR/FAN-AIR/FORCED (PUMPED) OIL SELF-COOLED, FANCOOLED PUMPED OIL FOA FORCED OIL/FAN COOLED PUMPED OIL WITH FANS AAAIR-AIR DRY TYPE (OR CAST INSULATION) SELF COOLED (BY CONVECTION) AA/FAAIR-AIR/FAN-AIR IN DRY TYPE SELF-COOLED WITH FANS

[0026] Transformer 20 may have transformer coil (not shown) that is madeof any suitable material such as copper wire. In an oil cooledtransformer where the hot spot temperature changes the heat of the coil,for example from 95° C. to 115° C., the resistance to current flow wouldbe increased by: (115° C.-95° C.=) 20° C.×43%/100° C.=8.3%. Theincreased resistance produces lower voltage.

[0027] By the theorem of Similar Triangles, calculations can be made forcomparing power and energy lost in transformer due to increase inresistance within the secondary coil. For example (See FIG. 2), bylimiting the rise in the oil temperature an average of 126° F. (52° C.)to 221° F. (105°) when ambient temperature is 95° F. (35° C.), andabsolute zero is 459° F. (237.2° C.) these losses are reduced by 4.0%when compared to 248° F. (120° C.) hot spot (See calculation below):$\frac{R_{248}}{R_{221}} = {\frac{459 + 153 + 95}{459 + 126 + 95} = 1.04}$

[0028] Similarly when ambient is 50° F. (10° C.) and the oil temperaturerise is limited to an average 110° .F (43.3° C.), the resistance tocurrent flow is decreased by 14.0% and the current flow could beincreased by 14.0% when compared to 248° F. (120° C.) hot spot (Seecalculation below):$\frac{R_{248}}{R_{160}} = {\frac{459 + 153 + 95}{459 + 110 + 50} = 1.14}$

[0029] Power transformer 20 may have various built-in overloadcapabilities, and existing cooling method as shown in TABLE 1. Theexisting cooling method requires a supply of external energy. Forexample, a cooling fan requires a connection to an outside electricalsource. The existing cooling method may be replaced or complemented bysystem 10 of the present invention.

[0030] System 10 further includes device for dissipating heat energy 30in communication with power transformer 20. According to FIG. 1, devicefor dissipating heat energy 30 includes heat exchanger 31. Heatexchanger 31 may include elongated tube 29 defining interior space 32and hollow coil 33 disposed within interior space 32 and extending frominlet connection 41 along the length of tube 29 to outlet connection 40.Medium line 24 has first end 34 connected to power transformer 20, andsecond end 35 open into interior space 32 at first end 36 of tube 29.First end 34 of first medium line 24 is connected to power transformer20 through valve 50, which can open when the internal temperature ofpower transformer 20 reaches a predetermined temperature, and can closeas the internal temperature of power transformer 20 drops below thepredetermined temperature. Medium return line 25 has a first end 43 openinto interior space 32 at second end 37 of tube 29, and second end 44 incommunication with power transformer 20.

[0031] First chillant line 52 and first chillant return line 53 are incommunication with heat exchanger 31 and refrigeration system 60. Firstchillant line 52 has first end 55 connected to and in communication withrefrigeration system 60, and second end 54 connected to and incommunication with hollow coil 33 at inlet connection 41 of tube 29.First chillant return line 53 has first end 57 connected to and incommunication with hollow coil 33 at outlet connection 40 of tube 29,and second end 56 connected to and in communication with refrigerationsystem 60.

[0032] Refrigeration system 60 may include any suitable absorptionchiller or refrigeration generator available in the market. Examples ofabsorption chillers and refrigeration generators that can be used insystem 10 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,109, the disclosure ofwhich is herein fully incorporated by reference. Generally, anabsorption chiller or a refrigeration generator employs heat energy toenergize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporationand absorption to provide a chillant for cooling purposes. The chillantmay be in a fluid form, such as water or gas.

[0033] As depicted in FIG. 1, refrigeration system 60 produces chillant62 that is transferred through first chillant line 52 into hollow coil33 at inlet connection 41 of heat exchanger 31. At the same time, heatenergy from transformer losses is transferred to medium 21, which may bean oil, water, a gas, or any other cooling fluid that circulates insidepower transformer 20. Medium 21 becomes heated medium 22 as thetemperature rises. When the temperature of heated medium 22 reaches apre-determined temperature, valve 50 opens to release heated medium 22into medium line 24. The ambient temperature may affect the temperatureof medium 21, but will not influence the operation of valve 50.

[0034] Heated medium 22 from medium line 24 enters interior space 32 oftube 29 at first end 36. While in tube 29, heat energy is transferred tochillant 62 in hollow coil 33 by a heat transfer process, resulting incool medium 21, and heated chillant 64. The initial temperature ofchillant 62 may be about 50° F. (10° C.). After the heat transferprocess, the temperature of heated chillant 64 may reach a about 80° F.(29.4° C.). Cool medium 21 exits tube 29 from second end 37 and entersmedium return line 25 to travel back to power transformer 20. Coolmedium 21 circulates inside power transformer 20 to capture additionalheat energy released from power transformer 20. Simultaneously, heatenergy captured in heated chillant 64 is transferred to refrigerationsystem 60 to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation,evaporation and absorption to produce chillant 62 having a sufficientlycool temperature.

[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.3 in addition to all components of system 10 in FIG. 1, system 70further includes gas compressor 72, and post-compression heat exchanger80 positioned downstream of gas compression area 75 within gascompressor 72. Post-compression heat exchanger 80 may include sensiblecooling coil 78 which receives chillant 62 from refrigeration system 60.Sensible cooling coil 78 extends within compressor 72. When gas iscompressed, a certain amount of heat energy is released. The heat energyis transferred to chillant 62 within sensible cooling coil 78 by a heatexchange process. As a result, chillant 62 becomes heated chillant 64,which is transferred back to refrigeration system 60. Refrigerationsystem 60 uses the heat energy in the staged process of concentration,condensation, evaporation, and absorption to produce another chillant62, as described hereinabove.

[0036] System 70 further includes second chillant line 82, and secondchillant return line 83. Second chillant line 82 is connected to and incommunication with refrigerator system 60 and post-compression heatexchanger 80. Second chillant line 82 may have a first end 84 branchingfrom first chillant line 52. First end 84 and first chillant line 52 mayform a T-position 85, allowing chillant 62 produced by refrigerationsystem 60 to move in two directions, one within first chillant line 52toward heat exchanger 31 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), another within secondchillant line 83 toward post-compression heat exchanger 80. Second end88 of chillant line 82 connects to first end 89 of sensible cooling coil78.

[0037] Second chillant return line 83 is connected to and incommunication with post-compression heat exchanger 80 and refrigerationsystem 60, allowing heated chillant 64 to be transferred frompost-compression heat exchanger 80 to refrigeration system 60. Secondchillant return line 83 has first end 90 connected to second end 92 ofsensible cooling coil 78. Second end 91 of second chillant return line83 may form a T-position 86 with first chillant return line 53. Heatedchillant 64 from first chillant return line 53 and second chillantreturn line 83 combine at T position 86 before moving along chillantreturn line 53 toward refrigeration system 60.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), first end 84 of secondchillant line 82 may be in direct communication with refrigerationsystem 60, without first joining first chillant line 52. Similarly,second end 91 of second chillant return line 83 may be in directcommunication with refrigeration system 60, without first joining firstchillant return line 53. In this specific embodiment, chillant 62 fromrefrigeration 60 will be transferred through a separate second chillantline 82 all the way to post-compression heat exchanger 80. Likewise,heated chillant 64 from post-compression heat exchanger 80 will betransferred through a separate second chillant return line 83 all theway to refrigeration system 60.

[0039] As further shown in FIG. 3, system 70 may include pre-compressionheat exchanger 71 positioned within compressor 72 upstream ofpost-compression heat exchanger 80 for cooling the gas that enterscompressor 72 prior to or at the same time as gas compression. Loweringthe temperature of the gas, prior to or simultaneously with the gascompression, reduces the energy required to compress the gas.

[0040] Heat exchanger 71 may include air condition coil 74 incommunication with second chillant line 82 through extension line 94,and second chillant return line 83 through extension line 95. Aircondition coil 74 receives chillant 62 from refrigeration system 60through second chillant line 82 and extension line 94, and returnsheated chillant 64 to refrigeration system 60 through extension line 95and second chillant return line 83.

[0041] In operation, compressor 72 may be driven by any power engine,such as a steam turbine engine, an electric motor, internal combustionengine. Air supplied through gas intake 73 flows through pre-compressionheat exchanger 71, whereby heat energy in the air is transferred by aheat exchange process into chillant 62 contained in air condition coil74. The air is compressed in compressor 72, releasing heat energy. Thecompressed air then passes post-compression heat exchanger 80, andthrough compressed gas line 76 to a place where the compressed air is tobe used or stored. Post-compression heat exchanger 80 recovers heatenergy by a process of heat exchange, wherein heat energy is transferredto chillant 62 in sensible cooling coil 78, producing heated chillant64. Heated chillant 64 from pre-compression heat exchanger 71 combinedwith that from post-compression heat exchanger 80 is transferred torefrigeration system 60, which uses the combined heat energy to producechillant 62, in the same way as what described herein above. Chillant 62is circulated back to air condition coil 74 and sensible cooling coil78. In one example, chillant 62 has a temperature of 42° F. (5.6° C.)when it is supplied to sensible cooling coil 78 and air condition coil74, whereas, heated chillant 64 may have a temperature of 52° F. (11°C.) when heated chillant 64 returns to refrigeration system 60.

[0042] In FIG. 3, system 70 further includes air breathing heat engine(ABHE) 100. As is conventional, air breathing heat engine 100 includescombustor 101 and turbine 102 which utilizes combustion force fromcombustor 101 to drive shaft 103. Shaft 103 is drivingly connected to agenerator 106 for power generation.

[0043] Air breathing heat engine 100 is positioned downstream ofcompressed gas line 76. Compressed air from compressor 72 is mixed withinjected fuel in combustor 101 and the air and fuel mixture is ignitedresulting in a combustion force that drives shaft 103 to actuategenerator 106. Exhaust gas 107 is produced as a result of the combustionis ported via conduit 108 to a waste heat recovery unit 111, havingcombustion heat exchanger 112 positioned within flue 117 of heatrecovery unit 111. Combustion heat exchanger 112 includes at least onechillant coil 113 receiving chillant 62 from refrigeration system 60. Asdemonstrated in FIG. 3, combustion heat exchanger 112 includes topchillant coil 114 stacked above bottom chillant coil 115. Both topchillant coil 114 and bottom chillant coil 115 are connected to and incommunication with chillant supply line 116 and chillant return line118.

[0044] In operation, heat energy from exhaust gas 107 in waste recoveryunit 111 is captured in chillant 62 within top chillant coil 114 andbottom chillant coil 115. Chillant 62 becomes heated chillant 64,leaving waste recovery unit 111 through chillant return line 118 torefrigeration system 60. The heat energy is used by refrigeration system60 to produce chillant 62, as described above. Chillant 62 circulatesback to top chillant coil 114 and bottom chillant coil 115 via chillantsupply line 116.

[0045] In a specific embodiment of the present invention (not shown),air breathing heat engine 100 may further include an acoustic enclosure,as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,094, the disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference. Refrigeration 60 may supply chillant62 for ventilating the acoustic enclosure via appropriate chillantsupply line connection (not shown) or through an additional heatexchanger placed within the acoustic enclosure, or as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,082,094.

[0046] Returning to FIGS. 1 and 3, refrigeration system 60 of system 10and 70 may simultaneously receive heat energy from power transformer 20,compressor 72, and air breathing heat engine 100, and use the combinedheat energy to generate chillant 62. Chillant 62 may be supplied to oneor more heat exchangers for various cooling purposes as described above.

[0047] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, system 120 includes steamturbine 121 connected to and in communication with refrigeration 60.Refrigeration system 60 is connected to power transformer 20 in the samefashion, as shown in FIG. 1. Generally, steam turbine 121 releases heatenergy which is transferred to refrigeration system 60 for use in theproduction of chillant 62, similar to what discussed hereinabove.

[0048] Steam turbine 121 may be any known steam turbine that has asuitable configuration. For example, as depicted in FIG. 4, steamturbine 121 includes steam condenser 122 in communication with turbineengine 123. Turbine engine 123 includes shaft 125 connected to powergenerator 126, or other machine or equipment that is operable usingpower from an engine. Steam turbine 121 receives condensed steam from asource, which can be a boiler of a compatible capacity. The condensedsteam enters steam turbine 121 through steam inlet pipe 128 and expandsin turbine engine 123, with an output of power driving shaft 125 toactuate power generator 126. After complete expansion, the expandedsteam flows to steam condenser 122 from turbine engine 123 through anappropriate exhaust steam casing (not shown), and is condensed to hotwater. Expanded steam or hot water can be returned to the steam sourceor the boiler through return pipe 129. Some excess hot water 130containing heat energy which may be at a temperature of about 210° F.(98.9° C.), may flow through first hot water pipe 132 from condenser 122to refrigeration system 60. Refrigeration system 60 uses the heat energyfor the production of chillant 62 for cooling power transformer 20 (seeFIG. 1).

[0049] Additional hot water or working fluid 133 may flow through secondhot water pipe 134 to hot water heater 140, which is connected to steamturbine 121. It is also possible to have excess steam from turbineengine 123 to flow through steam pipe 136 to supply heat to hot waterheater 140.

[0050] Hot water or working fluid 141, which is a residual hot waterderived from hot water 130 flowing through refrigeration system 60,wherein a portion of heat is extracted from hot water 130 for theproduction of chillant 62, may be supplied to hot water heater 140through third hot water pipe 142. Output hot water 150 from hot waterheater 140 can be distributed for various heating purposes.

[0051] In a specific embodiment (not shown), condenser 122 may contain aheat exchanger that can capture heat energy from condensing the steam.The captured heat energy can then be transferred to refrigeration system60, similar to what have been discussed above as relating to gascompressor 72.

[0052] Further, it is possible to combine the embodiments shown in FIGS.3 and 4, so that both steam turbine 121 and air breathing heat engine100 are components of the same system. Both turbine 121 and airbreathing heat engine 100 may produce heat energy that together can besupplied to refrigeration system 60. In addition, if air breathing heatengine 100 produces excess heat, the heat energy may be used to heat thewater in the connected hot water heater 140. For particular applicationsand circumstances, the amount of generated heat apportioned torefrigeration system and hot water heater 140 may be adjusted.

[0053] It is one advantage of the present invention to protect powertransformer 20 by keeping power transformer 20 at a suitabletemperature, regardless of the ambient temperature. It is anotheradvantage of the present invention to use one on-line refrigerationsystem 60 to produce chillant 62 for cooling different components of apower generation system. Refrigeration system 60 takes advantage of heatenergy that is released from internal sources within the system, andminimizes external energy requirements.

[0054] While the present invention has been described as having apreferred design, the present invention can be further modified withinthe spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for improving efficiency of airbreathing heat engines (ABHE) and power transformers comprising: a powertransformer; a heat energy dissipation device in communication with saidpower transformer and adapted to recover heat energy from the ABHE andsaid power transformer; and a refrigeration system operably coupled tosaid dissipation device using recovered heat energy to produce achillant, said refrigeration system supplying the chillant to said powertransformer and the ABHE.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein saiddissipation device includes a transformer heat exchanger.
 3. The systemof claim 2, wherein said transformer heat exchanger includes a liquid toliquid heat exchanger.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein saidtransformer heat exchanger includes a liquid to gas heat exchanger. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system includes anabsorption chiller, said chiller employing the recovered heat energy toenergize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporationand absorption to produce the chillant for cooling said powertransformer.
 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a gascompressor having a gas compression area; and a post-compression heatexchanger disposed within said gas compressor, and operably associatedwith said gas compression area to recover heat energy released whencompressed gas is produced by said gas compressor, said post-compressionheat exchanger operably coupled with said refrigeration system, saidrefrigeration system using the recovered heat energy to produce thechillant.
 7. The system of claim 6 further comprising: a pre-compressionheat exchanger for cooling pre-compression gas operably coupled withsaid refrigeration system, said pre-compression heat exchanger utilizingthe chillant produced by said refrigeration system for coolingpre-compression gas simultaneously with compression of gas in said gascompressor.
 8. The system of claim 6 wherein said refrigeration systemincludes an absorption chiller, said chiller employing the recoveredheat energy to energize a staged process of concentration, condensation,evaporation and absorption to produce the chillant.
 9. The system ofclaim 6 further comprising: an air breathing heat engine operablycoupled to said gas compressor, said air breathing heat engine using thecondensed gas from said gas compressor in a combustion to produce heatenergy; a post-combustion heat exchanger operably coupled to said airbreathing heat engine and arranged to recover the heat energy producedby said air breathing heat engine, said refrigeration system operablycoupled with said post-combustion heat exchanger, said refrigerationsystem using the recovered heat energy for producing the chillant. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein said air breathing heat engine includes ashaft, and a power generator drivingly connected to said shaft toactuate said power generator.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein saidrefrigeration system includes an absorption chiller, said chilleremploying the recovered heat energy to energize a staged process ofconcentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide thechillant.
 12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a steam turbinegenerating heat energy, said steam turbine connected to and incommunication with said refrigeration system, enabling the heat energyto be used by said refrigeration system for producing the chillant. 13.A system for improving a power transformer efficiency which is impactedby heat losses, said system comprising: a power transformer; atransformer heat exchanger for dissipating heat energy operably coupledwith said power transformer; a heat generating component generatingadditional heat energy; a second heat exchanger for recoveringadditional heat energy operably coupled with said heat generatingcomponent; and a refrigeration system operably coupled with saidtransformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, saidrefrigeration system utilizing the heat energy in a process forproducing a chillant, the chillant used for cooling said powertransformer.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said heat generatingcomponent is at least one of a gas compressor, an air breathing heatengine (ABHE), and a steam turbine.
 15. The system of claim 13, whereinsaid refrigeration system includes an absorption chiller, said chilleremploying the heat energy to energize a staged process of concentration,condensation, evaporation and absorption to provide the chillant. 16.The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of said transformer heatexchanger and said second heat exchanger includes a liquid to liquidheat exchanger.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of saidtransformer heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger includes aliquid to gas heat exchanger.
 18. A method for controlling the internaltemperature of a power transformer comprising the steps of: (a)providing a power transformer unit, a heat exchanger operably coupledwith the power transformer, and a refrigeration system operably coupledwith the heat exchanger; (b) dissipating heat energy produced by thepower transformer in the heat exchanger; (c) transferring the heatenergy to the refrigeration system; (d) producing chillant in therefrigeration system using the heat energy; and (e) transferring thechillant to the power transformer for cooling the power transformer. 19.The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: (f) providing aheat generating component, and a second heat exchanger for recoveringadditional heat energy produced by the heat generating component; (g)recovering the additional heat energy in the second heat exchanger; (h)transferring the additional heat energy to the refrigeration system; (i)producing additional chillant in the refrigeration system usingadditional heat energy; and (j) transferring the additional chillant tothe power transformer for cooling the power transformer.
 20. The methodof claim 19 further comprising the step of: (k) transferring theadditional chillant to the heat generating component for cooling withinthe heat generating component.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein theheat generating component of said (k) transferring step includes atleast one of a gas compressor, an air breathing heat engine (ABHE) and asteam turbine.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the refrigerationsystem of said (a) providing step includes an absorption chiller, thechiller employing the recovered heat energy to energize a staged processof concentration, condensation, evaporation and absorption to providethe chillant.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the refrigerationsystem of said (a) providing step includes an absorption chiller, saidchiller employing the recovered heat energy and additional heat energyto energize a staged process of concentration, condensation, evaporationand absorption to provide the chillant.